Day Trips from Tokyo: Kamakura & Enoshima, Yokohama and Kawagoe Transport and Sightseeing Guide

The most popular day trips from Tokyo are Kamakura & Enoshima, Yokohama and Kawagoe, all within an hour by train. From Tokyo Station, the JR Yokosuka Line reaches Kamakura in about 1 hour and the JR Tokaido Line reaches Yokohama in about 30 minutes; from Ikebukuro, the Tobu Tojo Line's Kawagoe Limited Express gets to Kawagoe in as little as 26 minutes. Starting from Shinjuku for Enoshima, Odakyu's Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass (¥1,640 for adults) covers the round trip and unlimited Enoden rides.

Key takeaways

• The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in) costs ¥300 to visit, plus ¥50 to go inside the statue; it's about a 7-minute walk from Enoden Hase Station.
• The Enoden one-day pass "Noriorikun" costs ¥800 for adults; Kamakura to Enoshima Station takes about 25 minutes.
• The Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama costs ¥500 for adults (free for high-school students and younger) and is closed on Tuesdays.
• Tobu's KAWAGOE DISCOUNT PASS Premium costs ¥1,200 for adults and includes a discounted round trip from Ikebukuro plus unlimited Tobu buses around Kawagoe.
• During Golden Week, Kamakura City runs a priority-entry scheme for residents at the crowded Enoden Kamakura Station, so allow time for queues on public holidays.

Which day trip from Tokyo? Kamakura vs Yokohama vs Kawagoe

All three are easy return trips; the difference is the mood. Kamakura & Enoshima mean old temples and sea views, Yokohama means harbour night views and Chinatown, and Kawagoe is an Edo-era merchant town. Pick the one that's easiest from where you're staying.

Destination	Best starting point	Main lines	One way	Highlights
Kamakura & Enoshima	Tokyo Station, Shinjuku	JR Yokosuka Line; Odakyu Line + Enoden	About 1 h–1 h 15 min	Great Buddha, shrines, sea views, Enoden
Yokohama	Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, Shibuya	JR Tokaido Line; JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line; Tokyu Toyoko Line	About 30–40 min	Minato Mirai night views, Chinatown, museums
Kawagoe	Ikebukuro, Shinjuku	Tobu Tojo Line; Seibu Shinjuku Line; JR Saikyo Line	About 26–50 min	Kurazukuri old town, Toki no Kane, sweet-potato treats

Kamakura and Enoshima day trip: how to get there, what to see and avoiding the crowds

The simplest way to do a Kamakura day trip is the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, which reaches Kamakura Station in about 1 hour with no changes. Kamakura was the seat of the Kamakura shogunate from the late 12th century and is packed with temples and shrines; Enoshima is a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge, and the Enoden railway connects the two.

How do you get from Tokyo to Kamakura and Enoshima?

From	Route	Time	Notes
Tokyo Station	JR Yokosuka Line direct to Kamakura	About 1 h	Easiest, no change
Shinjuku	JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Kamakura (some trains need a change at Ofuna)	About 1 h	Suica and other IC cards accepted
Shinjuku	Odakyu Line to Fujisawa or Katase-Enoshima, then the Enoden	About 1 h 15 min	Covered by the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass

Odakyu's Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass costs ¥1,640 for adults and ¥430 for children from Shinjuku. It includes the round trip from Shinjuku plus one day of unlimited rides on the Odakyu Line south of Fujisawa and on the Enoden; buy the smartphone version on EMot or a paper ticket at Odakyu stations. The Romancecar to Katase-Enoshima needs a separate limited-express ticket (¥750 for adults). If you're only travelling between Kamakura and Enoshima, the Enoden one-day pass "Noriorikun" costs ¥800 for adults.

What to see in Kamakura: the Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Enoshima

The classic Kamakura day-trip route is Tsurugaoka Hachimangu → the Great Buddha → Enoshima, starting at Kamakura Station and ending with sunset on Enoshima.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in. Photo: Guilhem Vellut / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

• Great Buddha (Kotoku-in): a seated bronze Amida Buddha about 13.35 m tall including its pedestal. Entry is ¥300; open 8:00–17:30 April–September and 8:00–17:00 October–March; going inside the statue costs an extra ¥50 (8:00–16:30). About a 7-minute walk from Enoden Hase Station; see the Kotoku-in website.
• Tsurugaoka Hachimangu: Kamakura's signature shrine, founded in 1063 and moved to its present site by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1180. The gates are open 6:00–20:00 and entry is free; it's about a 10-minute walk from the east exit of JR Kamakura Station or from Enoden Kamakura Station, along busy Komachi-dori.
• Enoshima: the island has Enoshima Shrine, the Iwaya Caves and an observation tower. From Enoden Enoshima Station it's about 15 minutes on foot across the bridge to the island, and there are plenty of slopes and steps, so wear comfortable shoes.

What if the Enoden is too crowded? Etiquette at the Kamakura-Kokomae crossing

The Enoden is a small single-track railway, and on weekends and holidays the queue at Kamakura Station can be long. Since 2018 Kamakura City has run a Golden Week trial: when entry to the station is restricted, residents with a certificate can skip the queue outside the station. In 2026 it was scheduled for 3–5 May, 12:00–16:00, but no entry restriction was needed that year.

The Enoden running on the street in Kamakura. Photo: Kirin7739 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

• To avoid the crowds, go on a weekday or board the Enoden at Kamakura before 10 a.m., and leave via Fujisawa Station on the way back.
• The level crossing next to Kamakura-Kokomae Station is famous from an anime. Take photos from the pavement, never stand in the road or on the tracks, and don't block residents and students.
• Komachi-dori gets very busy, and some shops ask you to finish food in front of the shop rather than eat while walking.

What to eat and buy in Kamakura and Enoshima

The signature dish of Kamakura and Enoshima is the shirasu (whitebait) rice bowl; raw shirasu is only served in season and may be unavailable when the catch is poor. The classic souvenir is Hato Sablé, the dove-shaped butter biscuit from the old Kamakura shop Toshimaya, and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu's omamori charms are also popular.

Yokohama day trip: getting there and what to see

The JR Tokaido Line takes about 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Yokohama Station, making Yokohama the easiest day trip from Tokyo. Yokohama is Japan's second most populous city and became an international port after it opened to foreign trade in 1859; Chinatown, Minato Mirai and Yamashita Park are all close to the waterfront.

How do you get from Tokyo to Yokohama?

• Tokyo Station: JR Tokaido Line to Yokohama in about 30 minutes; the Keihin-Tohoku Line also goes direct but is slower.
• Shinjuku: JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Yokohama in about 30–40 minutes.
• Shibuya: the Tokyu Toyoko Line runs through onto the Minatomirai Line, straight to Minatomirai, Bashamichi and Motomachi-Chukagai stations in about 35–40 minutes: the handiest option for the waterfront.

What to see in Yokohama: Chinatown, Minato Mirai, the Cupnoodles Museum and Sankeien

Zenrin Gate in Yokohama Chinatown. Photo: Suicasmo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

• Yokohama Chinatown: Japan's largest Chinatown, with more than 400 shops listed on its official website; the nearest station is Motomachi-Chukagai on the Minatomirai Line.
• Minato Mirai 21: home to Yokohama Landmark Tower, the Cosmo World Ferris wheel and the Red Brick Warehouse; the harbour is at its best at night.
• Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama: ¥500 for adults, free for high-school students and younger; 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00), closed on Tuesdays. The My CUPNOODLES Factory, where you design your own cup, costs extra and needs a numbered ticket issued on the day, which often runs out early on holidays. About an 8-minute walk from Minatomirai or Bashamichi Station; see the official site.
• Sankeien: a large Japanese garden with historic buildings moved here from Kyoto and elsewhere. Entry is ¥900 for adults; open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed 26–31 December; see the Sankeien website.

Minato Mirai 21 at night. Photo: Justin Taylor / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

What to eat and buy in Yokohama

In Yokohama, eat shumai dumplings and steamed pork buns in Chinatown, and try iekei ramen, the pork-bone and soy-sauce style that was born in Yokohama. The classic souvenir is Kiyoken's shumai, sold at Yokohama Station and other major stations.

Kawagoe day trip: getting to "Little Edo" and the best-value pass

The fastest way to Kawagoe is the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro: the Kawagoe Limited Express reaches Kawagoe Station in as little as 26 minutes. Kawagoe keeps the kurazukuri (clay-walled storehouse) streetscape of an Edo-era castle town, which is why it's called "Little Edo".

How do you get to Kawagoe from Ikebukuro or Shinjuku?

From	Route	Arrive at	Time
Ikebukuro	Tobu Tojo Line (Kawagoe Limited Express)	Kawagoe Station	From 26 min
Seibu-Shinjuku	Seibu Shinjuku Line limited express "Koedo"	Hon-Kawagoe Station	From 44 min (limited-express fee required)
Shinjuku	JR Saikyo Line rapid	Kawagoe Station	About 50 min
Shibuya	Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line (through to the Tobu Tojo Line)	Kawagoe Station	About 45 min

From Ikebukuro, consider Tobu's KAWAGOE DISCOUNT PASS Premium: ¥1,200 for adults and ¥600 for children. It includes a discounted round trip from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe or Kawagoeshi Station, a day of unlimited Tobu buses in designated sections of Kawagoe (including the Koedo Loop Bus), and discounts at partner shops. The old town is a 20–30-minute walk from Kawagoe Station, so the bus makes things easier.

What to see in Kawagoe: Toki no Kane, the kurazukuri street, Kashiya Yokocho and Honmaru Goten

Toki no Kane in Kawagoe. Photo: Zairon / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

• Toki no Kane (Bell of Time): Kawagoe's symbol, a three-storey wooden bell tower about 16 m tall. It was first built by a lord of the Kawagoe domain about 400 years ago; the current tower is the fourth, rebuilt after a great fire in the Meiji era. The bell rings four times a day, at 6:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00.
• Kurazukuri street (Ichibangai): lined with black clay-walled merchant houses, it's Kawagoe's liveliest street.
• Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley): a lane in Motomachi 2-chome packed with traditional candy and dagashi shops.
• Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten: built in 1848, it's the only surviving building of Kawagoe Castle. Entry is ¥100 for adults; open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday) and the fourth Friday of each month; see Kawagoe City Museum.

What to eat and buy in Kawagoe

Kawagoe is famous for sweet potatoes (satsumaimo): you'll find sweet-potato soft-serve, sweets and dishes everywhere, along with many long-established unagi (eel) restaurants. For souvenirs, pick up old-fashioned candy in Kashiya Yokocho or sweet-potato wagashi and snacks.

Day trips from Tokyo with luggage: what to do?

A suitcase is the last thing you want on a day trip. Enoden cars are small and often full at weekends, Kamakura and Enoshima have lots of slopes and steps, and Kawagoe's kurazukuri street has narrow pavements and big crowds. Station coin lockers are often full on holidays, and lockers big enough for a large suitcase are even scarcer.

If your day trip falls on a day you change hotels, for example moving from central Tokyo to Yokohama, or you want to go sightseeing straight after landing, a luggage delivery service helps. LuggAgent picks up your bags at your hotel or the airport and delivers them to the hotel or airport you choose the same day or the next day, so you only carry a day bag. See Tokyo luggage delivery for details.

If you land at Haneda and want to head straight to Yokohama or Kamakura, hand us your bags at the airport and we'll deliver them to your hotel in central Tokyo:

If you're moving from central Tokyo to a hotel in Yokohama, leave your bags at the front desk when you check out, explore Chinatown and Minato Mirai hands-free, and pick them up at your Yokohama hotel in the evening:

Book luggage delivery

FAQ

How long does it take from Tokyo to Kamakura, and what's the easiest way?

The JR Yokosuka Line runs direct from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station in about 1 hour with no changes, which is the easiest option. From Shinjuku, take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line (about 1 hour) or the Odakyu Line to Fujisawa and change to the Enoden; the latter is covered by the ¥1,640 Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass.

Can you see Kamakura and Enoshima in one day?

Yes. Start at Kamakura Station with Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, take the Enoden to Hase for the Great Buddha (¥300 entry), and spend the afternoon on Enoshima. The Enoden takes about 25 minutes from Kamakura to Enoshima Station; if you'll ride three or more times, get the ¥800 Noriorikun one-day pass.

How much is the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass and what does it include?

From Shinjuku it costs ¥1,640 for adults and ¥430 for children. It includes the round trip from Shinjuku, one day of unlimited rides on the Odakyu Line south of Fujisawa and the Enoden, and discounts at sights along the way. The Romancecar needs a separate limited-express ticket (¥750 for adults). Buy the smartphone version on EMot or a paper ticket at Odakyu stations.

How long is it from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe, and is there a discount pass?

The Tobu Tojo Line's Kawagoe Limited Express takes as little as 26 minutes from Ikebukuro, and around 30 minutes is typical. Tobu's KAWAGOE DISCOUNT PASS Premium costs ¥1,200 for adults and includes a discounted round trip from Ikebukuro and a day of unlimited Tobu buses around Kawagoe, which suits visitors who'll use the bus between sights.

Do you need to book the Cupnoodles Museum?

General admission doesn't need a booking: it's ¥500 for adults, free for high-school students and younger, and the museum is closed on Tuesdays. The My CUPNOODLES Factory needs a numbered ticket issued on the day, which often runs out early on holidays, so arrive around the 10:00 opening; the Chicken Ramen Factory workshop requires an advance reservation.

Cover photo: Maarten Heerlien / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0